ENG-1981 — Page 186

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PUBLIC ORDER

Crime During 1981, 77 953 crimes (excluding blackmail and associated thefts) were reported to the police, compared with 73 838 in 1980. Robberies were on the decrease - 8 263 as compared with 9 356 in 1980. Burglaries, on the other hand, increased from 8989 to 10 583. The overall detection rate was 50.5 per cent compared with 50.7 per cent the previous year.

A total of 29 738 people were arrested and prosecuted compared with 27 552 in 1980. Adults prosecuted totalled 26 053 and juveniles (under 16 years) numbered 3 685 – giving increases of 9.9 per cent and a decrease of 4.4 per cent, respectively, when compared with the previous year.

Triads and Serious Crime

An Organised Crime Bureau with two divisions - one dealing with the fight against triads while the other concentrating on high value property crime and all robberies in which genuine firearms were used - was established at Police Headquarters during the year.

After the new Money Lenders' Ordinance came into effect in December 1980, the Triad Society Division became heavily involved in its enforcement to curb the problem of loan-sharking with some 19 prosecutions being conducted during the year. Other spheres of police anti-triad action included investigations into Public Light Bus monopolies and the exploitation of squatters and residents in Temporary Housing Areas. Specific operations against identifiable triad groups included the 'Wo Shing Wo', 'Luen Lok Tong' and 'Fuk Yee Hing' triad societies. By the end of the year, 2 324 people had been arrested for offences with triad connections, 101 had been prosecuted for blackmail and eight charges of conspiracy had been prepared.

The Special Crimes Division continued to concentrate on goldsmith and jewellery shop robberies and the recovery of illegal firearms circulating amongst criminal gangs. During 1981, officers of the division recovered stolen property to a value of $1.65 million and seized 40 firearms and imitation firearms. Another 16 people were prosecuted for robberies in which firearms were used.

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Commercial Crime

Reports of commercial crime continued to increase resulting in a total of 1 094 cases being investigated, an increase of 30.3 per cent over 1980. The establishment of the Commercial Crime Bureau was raised to cope with the extra work.

The year posed problems connected with illegal immigration in a demand for forged identity cards and driving licences as proof of identity. This demand was catered for by forgers exploiting the situation. Action resulted in five syndicates being neutralised and a number of others remain under investigation.

Problems which arose from the counterfeiting of $5 coins resulted in a new $5 coin, with improved security features, being introduced in May. Since the old coin was taken out of circulation in October, no instances of attempts to counterfeit the new coin have yet come to light.

Action was taken during the year against irregular dealings by unlicensed brokers in the commodities field and several broker's shops were eliminated. New legislation in this field has had a direct bearing on the success achieved.

Narcotics

At the beginning of 1981 stockpiles of drugs released on the international market heralded a good harvest in the Golden Triangle area of Burma, Laos and Thailand, and opiate prices